June 17, 2009

Summer projects also include developing teacher lesson plans for Museum web site and compiling photos from both Cave Creek and Carefree

CAVE CREEK – Preserving history sometimes requires thinking to the future, and Cave Creek Museum is doing just that this summer.

The Museum is seeking volunteers of all ages to help digitize nearly 25,000 documents dating back to 1870. Help is also needed to compile past and current photos from both Cave Creek and Carefree to create a comprehensive photo disk. And, thanks to a grant from APS, Cave Creek Museum will create and post teacher lesson plans on its web site.

“We recognize the need to embrace technology and we need help,” said Evelyn Johnson, Cave Creek Museum’s executive director. “The Museum is not what it holds but what it shares. The digital photo exhibit, for example, will showcase heartwarming memories of significant people, places and happenings on a continuous loop aired on a 24-inch monitor in the Museum.”

The majority of documents will be scanned, but help is also needed in digitizing oral history.

“We have recorded oral histories on cassette tapes that need to be converted from analog to digital. We’re also seeking volunteers who are experienced with recording video and converting VCR tapes,” she said.

Cave Creek Museum first delved into the digital world by joining the Arizona Memory Project, a comprehensive online platform for museums, historical societies, libraries, schools and other non-profits for mounting digital exhibits of material.

Arizona Memory Project began three and a half years ago with a grant from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services to the Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act. The web site, www.azmemory.lib.az.us, show-cases more than 60 collections of its more than 30 partners.
Richard Prouty, manager of the Arizona Memory Project, said Cave Creek Museum and other project partners each have their own page where they can post historic photographs, government documents, oral history, maps, plats, video, and other items of interest.
“Cave Creek Museum should be commended for utilizing the power of the Internet to promote its collections,” Prouty said. “By doing so, it means the Museum is no longer a small repository on a hill. The Museum is now accessible to people all over the world.”
Located at 6140 Skyline Dr., Cave Creek Museum features an extensive collection of prehistoric and historic artifacts that describe the lives of Native Americans, miners, ranchers and pioneers.

Students and adults interested in volunteering to help digitize the Museum’s collections should call 480-488-2764 or visit www.cavecreekmuseum.org.